"Can you please spell Gab-bbana?" - a naive Andy Sachs vehemently enquires on phone only to be left hanging from the other end! A scene from the masterpiece, The Devil Wears Prada, an absolute stunner of a movie portraying the actual fashion scene in New York.
In the Fashion World, utility is not the sole purpose of an item. A piece of clothing or an accessory is an essential depiction of individual iconography that allows a person to express his or her sole identity. You know what they say, “Change the way you look, and you change the way people see you.”
The famous French Fashion designer Coco Chanel, who ruled over Parisian haute couture for almost six decades said, "Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street; fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening." Like a manifesto for a modern epic poem, an iconic triptych illustrates the individual’s adventure, personal conscience and self-affirmation become a monumental piece of the artists’ duet oeuvre.
So well next time know before you shop! Know your ‘stuff’. Know what you are wearing and what it has to offer and what difference it makes. Here's a fashion dictionary for you to refer to:
Activewear is designed to be worn during exercise or sports. Yoga pants, basketball shorts, and other items that facilitate comfort and ease of movement are considered activewear. If you’re looking for both fashion and function, there are plenty of options for activewear from which to choose. Running shoes, hiking boots, and hiking shoes are functional enough for some light trekking. Fashion sneakers lend themselves to everyday wear but can also be worn while exercising or when hiking short distances.
Bespoke originated as a term for a type of tailored suit, made according to the specifications of the person who ordered it. It's also used to describe a person or company that specialises in making such things, as in bespoke tailor. But today it can also be used to describe something or someone like that.
The French phrase Haute Couture translates to "high fashion". This term is used to describe very high-end, exclusive fashion that is custom-fitted to the wearer. True haute couture pieces are handmade and one-of-a-kind.
Vintage is something that is not old enough to be called antique or ancient. Items are usually defined as pieces of clothing or other accessories that are at least 20 years old. When new garments are manufactured with a vintage style, they reflect the design and material choices typical of an earlier era.
Androgynous is a word with Greek and Latin roots. The word was constructed from the Greek words Andras (man) and gune (woman). Androgynous has come to mean a person who doesn't look typically masculine or feminine. The androgynous dress themselves to look neither like a boy nor like a girl, thus, avoiding gender stereotypes. They don't fit in the culturally determined and defined characteristics of a male or a female. Whereas Unisex is an item of clothing made in a way to be considered fit for wear by both males and females.
Cruise Wear is a term for trendy, breezy clothes that are perfect for a cruise or tropical vacation. A cruise-wear wardrobe can be a mix of loose-fitting clothing and linens, with items like Hawaiian shirts, flowy maxi dresses, or slippers that allow you to relax. It evokes a feeling of vacation and relaxation.
Punk style is influenced by the music of the same name. Punk-style clothing often includes distressed or torn jeans, leather jackets, and studded belts.
Bugle beads are shiny, metallic-colored cylindrical beads used to embellish clothing. Shiny tops and ball gowns are often adorned with bugle beads in colours like silver, gold, and lilac.
Dolman sleeves, flare out above the wrist but are fitted at the lower end. This is a popular look on long-sleeve blouses or shirts, which often feature elastic or drawstrings at the wrist to create the flare.
The silhouette is fashion-speak for the outline or basic shape of an item of clothing. For example, A-line can be used to describe the silhouette of a certain style of skirt. This style is fitted at the waist but flares out in a straight line from the waist to the hem.
The word Eponymous means literally, “named after itself.” When a brand gets its name from the original designer, that makes it an eponymous brand. The most famous instance of this is when Louis Vuitton named his own brand after himself.
Fashion-forward will tell you that styles that are currently out of favour are destined to be stylish in a year or two. If you're a trendsetter and know what's hot right now, you're fashion-forward. If you like to wear classic pieces, you have a penchant for being timeless.
In-vogue. Styles that are popular such as those displayed in fashion magazines, television, Instagram, Fashion Streets, and Ramps are often referred to as being “in vogue.” When people say something is in vogue, they usually mean it is new and fashionable, but will probably change quickly.
A Capsule Wardrobe is a small collection of clothing items that can be mixed and matched to create many different outfits. Some clothes brands design collections of mix-and-match pieces, also called capsule wardrobes, allowing you to be able to make a lot of different outfits with only several pieces of clothing.
If you have breezed through this blog in all its context, you will realise there is a Sasha for every occasion. After your wardrobe, you can now have an Eyerobe - an eyewear wardrobe for your eyes.
Fashion is an ever-changing part of the daily air, evolving rapidly with the events of the times. Everything you wear are ideas and creativity either sewn, weaved, carved, or crafted. You can feel and embrace it as they are able to show us both their innermost feelings and deepest thoughts. Your choice today impacts your future tomorrow.
Know deeply. Choose wisely.
"Fashion is very important. It is life-enhancing and, like everything that gives pleasure, it is worth doing well.” —Vivienne Westwood. We at Sasha are evolving every passing moment and while doing so, meaning well for the planet and its people.
Come, Sasha.
